Begonia plant named ‘Bbsophia’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bbsophia’, characterized by its medium-sized, upright and mounded plant habit; double flowers with white-colored tepals; and excellent flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Bbsophia’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bbsophia’.

The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in acontrolled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in April, 2002, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Dabra’,not patented. The new Begonia was observed as a single plant in a groupof flowering plants of the parent cultivar.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands since 2002, has shown that theunique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bbsophia’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bbsophia’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bbsophia’ as a new and distinct Begonia:

-   -   1. Medium-sized, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Double flowers with white-colored tepals.    -   3. Excellent flower longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the parent, thecultivar Dabra. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plantsof the cultiva Dabra in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more vigorous than plants of        the cultiva Dabra.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Dabra differ in        tepal color as plants of the cultivar Debra have yellow-colored        tepals.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the cultivarClara, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Aalsmeer,The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of thecultivar Clara in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia had lighter green-colored leaves        than plants of the cultivar Clara.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia had less rounded flowers than        plants of the cultivar Clara.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Clara differed in        tepal coloration as plants of the cultivar Clara had green        white-colored tepals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Bbsophia’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where genealterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands during the spring and summer, andgrown under conditions typical of commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 15 to 20° C. and light levels were about 18,000lux. Plants used for the photograph and the description were grown in13-cm containers and were about three months old when the photograph anddescription were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bbsophia.-   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of    Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Dabra, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures of            20° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About five weeks at temperatures of            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched. Plants of            the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and habit.—Medium-sized, upright and mounded            plant habit; freely branching with about six to seven basal            branches per plant. Moderately vigorous. Vegetative shoots            are formed at basal nodes and flowering shoots are formed at            upper nodes.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 20 to 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9 to 14 cm. Diameter: About            1 to 3 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 7 to            8 cm. Width: About 6 to 7 cm. Shape: Roughly ovate;            asymmetrical. Apex: Acute. Base: Oblique. Margin: Doubly            crenate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color:            Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 136A.            Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 139A.            Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 136B. Petiole length:            About 4 to 6 cm. Petiole diameter: About 4 mm. Petiole            color, upper and lower surfaces: 136B. Stipule quantity: One            to two per leaf. Stipule size: About 1 cm by 1 cm. Stipule            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Stipule            color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 136A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with about 10 to 15 tepals            per flower; flowers arranged in axillary cymes; about five            to six open flowers per cyme; numerous cymes in flower            simultaneously; about 30 to 42 open flowers per plant.            Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage and face            upright to outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Under natural daylight conditions,            plants flower from spring until the fall. Flower initiation            and development is induced by long day/short night            conditions. Flowering continuous under photoinductive            conditions.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four weeks            on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Cyme height.—About 4 to 5 cm.        -   Cyme diameter.—About 5 to 7 cm.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Oval to rounded; double. Diameter: About 4            to 5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 155D.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Obovate to rounded.            Apex: Rounded to obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Length: About 2 to 3 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 cm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color:            When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 155D. Fully opened,            upper surface: 155B; color becomes closer to 158D with            development; margins of outer tepals occasionally tinged            with close to 53A. Fully opened, lower surface: 155D;            margins of outer tepals occasionally tinged with close to            53A.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: Two per flower. Arrangement:            Opposite. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:            Broadly cordate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 155D.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:            About 4 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 145B.        -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:            About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 191D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed            as reproductive organs are not formed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Begonia have been    observed to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new    Begonia have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other    pathogens common to Begonia.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Bbsophia’, asillustrated and described.